1 Corinthians 7:17-24

¹⁷ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. ²⁰ Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. ²² For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

Commentary

Vs. 17 "But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches."

The Apostle Paul exhortation here is so that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ do not think they need to overthrow their lives and relationships in order to follow the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully. Though Christ may lead us to take on new challenges, and or leave certain relationships behind, these are things that generally take place over time, as the Lord reveals these things to us. And so unless your current lifestyle, relationships, and or circumstances demand radical and immediate changes. Don't try to revolutionize your life for the Lord by disconnecting yourself from all that you once knew. Instead as God has distributed to you; that is given you your station in life and all the responsibilities that go with it; as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk, that is so live. For that is the Lord's command for us all, as the Apostle says here, "And so I ordain in all the churches." Therefore seek to serve and follow Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior in whatever state He called you in. 

Vs. 18 "Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised."

In the early church circumcision was a contentious issue since many who first came to Christ were in fact of Jewish origins. Yet as the Apostles and church elders came to understand the Lord's Will for us all, keeping the Law and specifically rite of circumcision was not an obligation that belonged to anyone who was coming to Christ (see Acts 15:1-29). That said, those Jews who were circumcised were not to become uncircumcised, that is if they felt comfortable living as Jews under the Law's customs and ordinances than they were free to remain in that state if they so desired, the Temple still being intact, and the fall of Jerusalem not yet having occurred. Thus if they themselves felt they needed to circumcise their children and keep the Laws ordinances, then this was something that themselves could do (see Acts 21:18-25). Yet this was not something that they were to be impose upon any Gentiles who were coming to Christ (Read the Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Galatians; specifically Gal. 5:1-6). Therefore if called while circumcised one did not need to renounce their circumcision. Or if called while uncircumcised, one did not need to be circumcised to be in a covenant relationship with God, since this we all have through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-29). For again we are to live in whatever state we are called, especially as this pertains to living peaceable with those around us. For only the Apostle Paul lived as both a Jew and a Gentile, and this he only did for the Gospels sake, so that he might win both Jews and Gentiles to Christ (see 1 Cor 9:18-23). 

Vs. 19 "Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters." 

In the big picture of things the Jewish emphasis on circumcision (which is no longer required of anyone under the New Covenant) bears little weight with God when it comes to living right before Him. Rather it is keeping the commandments of God that matters, that is the moral and ethical precepts found throughout God's Word which make for righteous and peaceful living. Something God has always proclaimed to us all throughout His Word, to Keep His Word, and now especially His Son's Word (consider Deut. 5:8-10; 18:18-20; Isaiah 48:18; Matt. 17:5; John 14:15; 15:10; Rev. 12:11, 17; 19:10).

Vs. 20-21 ²⁰ Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 

The Apostle Paul now broadens his scope from mere circumcision to basically whatever ones station in life is. Thus if called while a slave, (as there were many slaves in the Roman Empire), one was not to worry about it. That is one was not to think God required them to abandon their masters and cause all kinds of upheaval by their doing so to follow Christ. However if they could become free then by all means they were to use their new freedom for the Gospels furtherance. Same with us, God does not require us to quite our jobs, or abandon our family and societal responsibilities to follow Jesus Christ. However if in the course of time you perceive that Christ is calling you to serve Him in the mission field, or in ministry in some way, then by all means pursue it. Don't try to keep your life if Christ is calling you away from it (Mark 8:36-9:1). Same with family ties, some of these bonds may have to be forsaken, as ones loyalty to Christ, and not ones family, is always to be paramount (Matt 10:34-39). That said don't go and blindly and recklessly abandon your family and your responsibilities to them, for as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ we still have obligations to them. Just don't let them (or your loyalty to them) keep you from doing what Christ has called you to do (Matt. 19:27-30). 

Vs. 23-24 ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

Each and every believer has been bought with the very high price of the Crucifixion death and shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Something Jesus did to redeem us all who believe in Him from death, sins power, and Satan's domain. Therefore in light of God's love and mercy for us by which He has made us free through the death and the Resurrection of His Son, which becomes enacted in us the moment we believe in Him (John 8:31-35) we should not now become slaves of men. For having been set free, we are not to now to become slaves of men, slaves to serve the doctrines and commandments of men which only entangle people in legalistic or cultic bondage. Rather we are to love, serve, and enjoy God's Son Jesus Christ with our new persons and lives in whatever state God has called us in. Thus whether we are circumcised or uncircumcised, married or single, whatever ones state that God called us in, we don't need to be ashamed of these, or forsake these to faithfully follow Christ. Instead we are should remain in that state in which God called us. 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Word Studies 

distributed, μερίζω; Str 3307; GK 3532; LN 37.100; 57.89; 57.90; 63.23 (Rom 12:3; 1 Cor 7:17; 2 Cor. 10:13) 3x

Additional Resources Consulted 

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, pp. 482–483). New York: United Bible Societies.

Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.